The following morning Freder was still facing a conundrum that had occurred to him after Stannous had left the junior novice’ common room, just how was it that he could control the blades on the little windmill so well but could not stop the lightest weights from flying up to the top of the frame ? He found it very hard to concentrate on anything else, his writing was decidedly substandard until master Brookwyrde had made a gentle but pointed observation to him. Thereafter he endeavoured to put the dilemma out of his thoughts and turn out the crafted words that were so beautiful when written by the master. His final efforts at least did seem to satisfy the master.
The next lesson demanded just as much concentration, they were still attempting to master the healing pulse having swapped patients. Freder found himself sighting Valentina’s aura, but was spared her intense gaze as he had shut his eyes to perform the examination. As his left hand followed the contours of her body he was only aware of how these translated to her serene blue aura with its flashes of mauve and fringe of purple. It reminded him very much of her mother’s awesome aura but unlike that intimidating sight Valentina’s was quiet and strangely comforting. In fact she had no injuries that he could see, probably as she had not joined in the boisterous and bruising boulder fear game. When he reported this to master Elias he was made to swap with Lewis so that he could see some real injuries on Winston before going back to his desk to resume his efforts to deliver a healing pulse to an unripe tomato. It was a predictably messy time as he destroyed one tomato after another, along with most of the others who were similarly unsuccessful. Even Valentina had somehow lost her touch and pulped five before she regained her composure and delivered a series of three perfect pulses in a row. Winston managed a pulse with his last tomato of the lesson and master Elias did not seem unduly perturbed by the slow progress, it was a difficult exercise. He briefly detained Freder at the end of class to re-examine his bruises and give him a top up treatment.
“There.” He said with a satisfied air, having given Freder the last of sixteen further healing pulses. “I think that will have you healthy and whole in another few days.”
“Thank you master.” Freder smiled and refastened his shirt buttons. “May I ask you something ?”
“Ummm ? What do you have in mind ?”
“Well, I’m having trouble with the healing pulse…”
Master Elias nodded with a quirky smile.
“I was wondering how long it took you to master it.”
“Such a long time ago now.” Master Elias ruminated. “But I think it took me the best part of two weeks to get it down properly. You have a ways to go before passing my mark.” He answered with a kindly hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, off you go now.”
The little revelation did make Freder feel better about his lack of success, maybe when he got the healing pulse to work he could levitate the small weights properly too, maybe. But first he had his conundrum to settle and after a happy half hour playing a game of tig with the others he was about to get the chance to do a little experiment.
He sat at his desk in master Marcus class with his frame, now restored to full function after the master had ‘unpeeled’ the small bent weight for him, as did all the others.
“I wish you to continue to practice levitating the weights of progressively heavier mass, please select your fount and begin while I have a word with novice Adams.” He had told them.
“I hear that you have succeeded in levitating a full size squirl.” He said quietly to Freder.
“Yes master. Master Elena has been giving me extra tuition.”
“Even so you lack precision when levitating these smaller weights, therefore I think it a worthwhile activity for you to continue with, albeit you will not require to use a fount. Carry on.”
“Master ?”
“Yes ?”
“Could I try with the windmill again for a while, I seemed to have control over that.”
“You did indeed, yes that would be alright. One moment.”
Master Marcus went back to his desk and brought back the little windmill.
“Here you are Adams, away you go.”

Freder placed the little metal toy in front of him and silently slipped into the chant, allowing the gentle clinking all about him to fade away and concentrating on pulling the energy he wanted directly from the stone blocks of the wall. Then he set the flux at rotating the little vanes, they whizzed round until he squeezed off the flow of energy and slowed them to a virtual crawl. So he could still do it, but now he looked at just what was happening to the flux energy and realised with a sinking sensation that most of it simply didn’t impinge upon the little blades at all. He hadn’t focussed it as he did with the weights. So there wasn’t a conundrum here at all, just a waste of the energy he had summoned. Disappointed that the exercise hadn’t given him the breakthrough that he thought possible Freder returned to his frame of weights and started where his companions were aiming, the heaviest disc, and tried to get a smooth levitation; it jerked upwards but at least it didn’t shoot straight into the top bar. By the end of the class he was attempting the third weight along, not that successfully but it was an improvement over his starting position and he took some satisfaction from that.
Despite the happy noisy presence of the other juniors Freder was somewhat subdued over lunch.
“What’s the problem Fred ?” Winston asked him as he saw him listlessly eating.
“This afternoon.” Freder told him unhappily.
“What ? Working for Mrs D. Where’s the problem with that ?”
“Well it’s a punishment isn’t it ?”
Winston just grinned and shook his head in amazement.
“Hardly Fred. Mrs D likes a clean kitchen and a bit of help with some of the cooking, nothing difficult there and…” He leaned over to speak quietly. “She feeds you treats while you’re working for her.”
Freder looked back at his friend as if he didn’t quite believe what he was being told.
“It’s true Fred.” John said. “Working in the kitchens is one of the best jobs. You wouldn’t want to be clearing out after the pigs, now that’s bad.” He laughed as Harley looked up and grimaced.
“I was on that task last week, I swear they made more mess especially for me.”
Freder grinned, it did sound as though Stannous had come up with a soft option for him, and the idea of extra little treats was a definite plus.
As Lewis led the way into the kitchens Freder had to stop and stare at the room, it was vast, more a hall than anything he recognised as a kitchen. Like the refectory it had a high peaked roof supported on projecting hammer beams but the roof here was pierced by high windows that allowed the afternoon sunshine to cast luminous rays through the cooking fumes and vapours. Along one long wall was a continuous line of gleaming black cooking ranges, five in total, with rack upon rack of equally shiny pots, pans and kettles hanging above them. Through the middle of the kitchen ran long wooden tables with all manner of food and ingredients laid out or being worked upon, the sound of chopping knives and whisking spoons reverberating around the room as the backdrop to the happy chatter passing back and forth between the many women at work there whilst others stood a row of huge stoneware sinks cleaning vegetables Even the stone flooring flags were set so precisely that you couldn’t have gotten a knife blade between them. This was no mere kitchen this was a veritable cathedral of cookery.
“Hallo Lewis, who’s your friend ?” One of the women at the central table called out.
“This is Freder, he’s taking my place for the next two afternoons Maisy, where’s Mrs D ?”
“Pantry.” Maisy pointed off towards one of the many doorways leading away through the short wall.
“Thanks.”
Lewis set off with Freder in his wake, stepping in and out of the busy women who would smile or pass a greeting as they went. It did seem an extraordinarily friendly place and Freder understood why Stannous had thought it a good idea for him as he was so new in the House. Going down a flight of steps the temperature got markedly cooler as they entered the pantry, which was lit by lines of small windows high up in the walls.

“It’s always lovely and cool down here even in high summer.” Lewis told him as they crossed the threshold and entered a world of stacked cheeses, hanging meats, baskets of fruit and vegetables and innumerable bottles and boxes. The very air was like a meal in every breath.
“Hello Mrs D.” Lewis said happily as they caught sight of her back bent over a large barrel.
“Lewis, what brings you down here ? Not lost are you ?” She asked him with a laugh.
“Not me Mrs D, I’ve got a job to do for master Stannous, Freder will be my replacement for the next two days.”
Mrs D ceased her rummaging in the barrel and straightened up to regard the pair, Freder recognised her as the woman who master Catherine had sought out on his first day in the House.
“Ahh, our newest novice, hello again young master Adams.” She said with a broad smile.
“Hello.” Freder smiled back, he instantly warmed to this jolly stocky woman with greying brown hair.
“Well you’d best run along Lewis, I’ll show Freder the jobs to be done.”
“Thanks Mrs D, see you later Fred.”
As Lewis trotted out of sight Mrs D grinned at Freder  and said in a quiet voice.
“Master Stannous came to see me last night to explain his punishments, but I’ll not be working you into a lather Freder, don’t you worry.”
“Thank you.” He replied. “May I call you Mrs D ?”
“Of course my dear, everyone does.”
“Umm, why ?”
“Because I hate being called Delores.” She said with a mock grimace. “Now make yourself useful dear and carry this basket up for me.” She smiled and held out the whicker basket that she had been filling with all manner of vegetables.
Freder took it and led the way back up into the warm bustle of the kitchen and was very surprised when Mrs D called out over his head.
“Ladies, meet our helper today and tomorrow. This is Freder Adams our new novice.”
There was a barrage of greetings from every corner of the room which Freder answered with nods and smiles as he was guided over to where Mrs D was preparing a soup.
“Just put that on the floor dear.” She requested him. “Whenever you bring up a basket or such from the stores always put it on the floor beside the ladies, only food ever touches the table top.”
Freder nodded his understanding, the table top had that special sheen that came from constant scouring.
“Now it will be your job to keep the floors clean as we work. Use a besom and dip it in water as you work so you don’t raise any dust.” Mrs D said demonstrating with the bound twig broom. “Sweep it away into that corner and down the refuse chute with more water.”
“Okay.” Freder assented accepting the besom. “Do you want me to start in the other corner ?”
“That’s the idea dear, master Stannous said you were a clever boy. At times we’ll ask you to wash pans and dishes but we’ll deal with that as it happens. Away with you now.” She waved him off with a smile and he hauled the bucket to the opposite corner of the huge kitchen and began to dip and sweep towards the distant refuse hole. The ladies would move aside as he went or call him back if he missed something so that every inch was always immaculately clean. When he needed more water he enquired where to get it and was directed into another room where there were four big sinks and a big pump for fresh water. Working the handle was something of a novelty but hard work for someone who had never had to do more than turn on a tap before now, even in the stone they didn’t have to raise the water but that had been for other reasons. When he had completed his sweeping run he returned to his start point and began again, for like the Forth Rail bridge his was a never ending job as all the waste materials were dropped to the floor for him to remove. But it wasn’t a hard job and when he began to feel a bit thirsty one of the ladies seemed to read his mind and pointed him towards a big earthernware jug and mugs at the end of the table. It was full of the lovely spicey apple juice and quenched his thirst wonderfully. Around him the cooking and preparing was conducted in seeming random fashion but Mrs D would always give a quick word or indication to keep everything moving smoothly, alternating her time at the table and the big ranges where pots boiled aromatically and the big black cavernous ovens swallowed pies and casseroles that took a strong pair of arms to lift. 

Things were ticking along nicely and by mid afternoon Freder had settled into a pleasant routine of sweeping with little side missions to fetch and carry for the ladies, usually dirty pans and utensils to be taken to the side room for washing. As he was returning from one such diversion he stopped beside Mrs D on his way back.
“There’s quite a pile of washing to be done, should I start on it now ?” He enquired.
“Good thinking Freder, I’ll just show you the bits and bats and you can begin.”
The bits and bats turned out to be the soap powder for the utensils and earthenware dishes and scouring powder for the pots and pans.
“The tap there is hot water, wash in one sink then rinse in a second and place the pots on this rack, the dishes on this rack and the utensils all hang from this rail.”
Freder nodded and began to fill the two sinks but the water emerging form the tap was only tepid no matter how long it ran, this would hardly shift anything.
“Mrs D, there’s no hot water.” He informed her.
“No hot ? Della is number four working properly ?” She called over to one of the ladies at the ranges.
“I don’t know.” Came the reply and a hurried inspection brought an unwelcome reply. “The fires not drawing properly Mrs D, it’s barely warm, the pie is still cold.”
Mrs D frowned and hurried over to the ranges with Freder tagging along behind, her hand inside the oven told her all she needed to know, this oven was useless.
“It’ll be those dratted jackdaws building their nest in the chimney again.” She fumed. “I told master Jolyon to have them protected with mesh last autumn.”
“What shall we do Mrs D ?” Della asked.
“Put the pie in the top of number one for a half hour and then put it in the middle of number five, that should cook it well enough. But we’ve no water for the washing now or later, it’ll take hours to heat another batch on one of the other ranges.”
“Anything I can do ?” Freder asked her.
“Well you can fill the tank on number one dear, and maybe we can cajole a master into lending a hand. See the pump at the end there ?”
He saw where she was pointing.
“Yes.”
“There are five numbered taps beside it, open number one, close number four and pump away dear.” Mrs D said in an exasperated tone and bustled away to carry on her mission of damge limitation.
Freder followed her instructions and started to push the short wooden handle back and forth so that he could hear water sloshing into a back tank above and behind the range beside him. When he had been pumping for ten minutes one of the ladies opened a pair of taps above the range to allow the water to circulate through the heating coils. She looked over at Freder and smiled encouragingly.
“If we get one of the masters they can heat the water up in a trice. If they can be troubled to do such a trifle that is.”

Freder considered this and recalled his time with Stannous when the master had used the energy from a river to heat the water in the old fishing boats boiler after he had repaired it. He had seen what Stannous had done, channelling the raw energy through the metal of the boiler and causing it to heat up, there was no finesse involved. It seemed very likely that he could do that just as easily, but for the moment he kept patiently pumping feeling his hands get sore. Another lady was passing as he looked at his hand and gave him a chamois leather.
“Wrap it around the handle, that way you won’t get blisters.”
“Thanks.” Freder replied happily and wrapped the soft leather around the wood. Pumping certainly was a lot easier on his hands thereafter but he knew his arms would feel it that night.
Mrs D re-appeared in the kitchen and came across to him.
“You might as well rest dear, none of the masters will come. There’ll be no hot water for us or anyone else tonight.”
“Mrs D.” Freder began a little tentatively.
“Yes dear ?”
“I saw master Stannous heat the water in a boiler when we were taking passage on a fishing boat, I think I can do that here.”
Mrs D looked at him for a moment and then smiled.
“Master Stannous said you had a dark aura, now I’m not sure what that rightly means, but he did allow that you could do things that no novice would be able to. If you think you can heat the water then please do it my dear.”
Freder didn’t need any further encouragement and went to stand before the range. He closed his eyes and let the chant cycle through his mind and saw the kitchen take ghostly form in his mindseye. The dark masses of iron so solid in life had a translucent quality to them so that he could see the gentle sparkling of the residual energy in the water and the tiny sparks of the coal fires. He ignored everything else around him and sent his vision down into the ground below the House where the energy streams ran deep and powerful. He ignored the nearby streams for they weren’t particularly powerful and he wanted a lot of energy to heat the water rapidly. He dipped down into an intense stream that blazed incandescently in his othersight and received a jolt from the energy that fizzed like none he had tried before and he drew upon it’s fiery essence to direct it through the heavy iron water tank. Almost immediately there was an audible hiss and snap as the water in contact with the metal began to bubble and boil.
“It’s beginning to boil.” A voice whispered in awe nearby.
“Alice, on the pump lass.” Mrs D ordered briskly. “Nancy, start running the taps for the washing.”
Freder let the activity take off around him, he was concentrating, his arms raised to direct the flow of energy that he pulled voraciously from the deep Earth. The fizzing and snapping got very loud as he continued to send torrents of energy through the metal, he began to see changes in it and opened his eyes just as one of the ladies gasped.
“It’s glowin’, Mrs D the tanks glowin’ !”
“Easy now dear.” Mrs D said to him. “I think you’re overcooking it.”

He realised that in his enthusiasm to heat the water he was getting dangerously close to actually melting the metal and cut his connection with the deep source allowing the dull red glow to fade away while the water continued to thrash and boil inside it.
“Well young master Freder.” Mrs D said with considerable admiration. “It seems we don’t need any other master than you.”
“Happy to help.” Freder beamed back.
“Well dear, could you help Nancy with the dishes then ?” Mrs D asked him with a wide grin.
“Okay.” He laughed and set off to use the hot water that he had so effortlessly provided, leaving an excited chatter in his wake as the ladies all commented upon his performance.
He had barely rolled up his sleeves and plunged his hands into the hot soapy water when a sudden hush fell over the normally buzzing kitchen and a conversation took place. It was too quiet to make out what was said but he recognised the tone, it wasn’t a happy one. His curiousity was piqued and he wondered if he dared sight the newcomer but then footsteps approached the washroom across the hard stone slabs, each step eerily audible in the total silence that held sway in the kitchen. The tall figure of master Elena entered the wash room and Freder saw that her face was taut.
“Please leave us.” She requested of Nancy who gave a quick curtsey and scuttled out.
With his hands still in the suds Freder waited for the rebuke he felt certain was coming.
Master Elena regarded him somberely and her eyes defocused to look through him at his dark aura.
“Why did you use your talent to heat the water Freder ?”
The question caught him out, he was expecting a ticking off.
“I…I…I wanted to help Mrs D.” He managed weakly.
“You didn’t want to show off your talent perhaps ?”
“I didn’t even think of that master, the range that was supposed to heat the water wasn’t working properly. There was no hot water for washing the dishes or anything else. Mrs D asked for help from a master but none would come, I thought I could heat the water, I’d seen master Stannous do it before.” The words came tumbling out of him. “I just wanted to help.” He concluded with tears welling in his eyes.
Her eyes refocused upon his unhappy face and she shook her head slightly.
“Oh Freder.” She sighed. “I am not angry with you, you were honest in your desire and that is good. But I am worried that you should attempt such an act. I could feel the strength of the energy stream you used, it was a balfljot, far too strong and incredibly dangerous. The deep balfljot are unpredictable and can cause great harm to the wielder, even one with a dark aura.”
She leant forward and wiped the tears that had formed away with a hankerchief.
“I want you to promise me Freder that you will not try such a dangerous act as this again. Only ever use a vatenloeker when you are being guided by a master, they are not toys.”
“I promise master.”
She straightened up with a smile.
“You have time enough Freder, do not try so hard.”
“But master Catherine said….” He began and then regretted blurting out.
“Ah yes, a master before a year is out.” Master Elena recalled. “Catherine may indeed be correct but please let us decide when you are ready to attempt certain tasks.” She concluded patiently.
“Yes master.” He replied quietly.

“Mrs D speaks highly of you Freder, I am pleased that you are being so conscientious, we will recommence your training when your ‘punishment’ here is complete.”
With that welcome news ringing in his ears Freder watched as master Elena walked out of sight and the normal hubbub resumed shortly thereafter. Mrs D came hurrying in as Freder turned back to the dishes.
“Is everything alright dear, you haven’t gotten into trouble over the water have you ?”
“No Mrs D, master Elena was concerned that I was in danger, I shouldn’t have done it without supervision.”
“Well that’s a healthy attitude.” Mrs D nodded. “You’re too valuable for us to lose young master, what with all the dishes and pans to do yet.”
They both grinned at each other and Nancy came back in to carry on working beside him. She waited until Mrs D was out of earshot before demanding to know what the master had to say, Freder repeated what he had told Mrs D, he had done something that was rather dangerous and should only do it under guidance from a master.
“You seemed to know what you were about.” Nancy commented.
“I’m still learning.” He allowed. “How do you get all the dried on bits off ?”
They both laughed and Nancy flicked some soap suds at him.
“Use those.”
At the end of his time in the kitchen the refectory was filling up with hungry masters and novices but Mrs D asked him to stay on a little longer and help get the food served as things had been somewhat delayed by swapping dishes between ovens and they needed every hand. He ferried pies and pots of vegetables up to the serving area and even found the odd moment to perform a final cleanup of the floor when Mrs D called him over to the preparation table.
“This is the Master Supreme’s meal, I’d like you to take it out to her dear.” She said indicating the tray with a selection of covered dishes upon it.
“Okay.” Freder answered and wondered why so many of the ladies were looking his way and smiling. He was completely unaware of this little ritual of the kitchen. The person who got to take the Master Supreme her meal was the one that Mrs D judged had worked to their best of their abilities that day and it was a honour bestowed in a very public way.
He simply picked up the tray carefully and made his way out into the refectory, as he went he discovered that he couldn’t really see in front of him properly due to the size of the tray and slipped almost effortlessly into othersight that rendered it ‘see through’. This was a fortunate choice as many carelessly dropped bags littered his path and he weaved his way around them. His concentration on missing the obstacles was such that he failed to notice a marked quietening of the chatter in the hall as everyone noted who Mrs D had chosen for her praise. He did however clearly see a foot that was suddenly thrust out in front of him and caused him to halt and recognise the offender, Norbert. He was not pleased at the obvious attempt to trip him but kept his head.
“Kindly move your foot Norbert.” He told him coldly and sufficiently loudly for it to be heard some distance away.
The offending limb was withdrawn by a sullen faced Norbert who now felt the attention of nearby masters upon him and Freder continued on his way to deliver the meal tray. The downside of using his othersight was that he was painfully aware of Miranda Bluesky’s intense aura as he approached her and carefully placed the tray upon the table before her. He let his eyes refocus and was about to turn away and return to the kitchen when she spoke.
“Freder.”
He looked up into her blue eyes and saw slight lines of amusement around them.
“Yes Master Supreme ?” He asked her timidly, had he done something silly ?
“As you have only been in our company for a few days you may not be aware of the honour that has been bestowed upon you.”
Honour ? He had just brought her meal, what was special about that ?
“Mrs D only sends her best efforts for my meal and she will only allow the best of her staff that day to carry it, well done Freder.” She told him with a smile.
He glanced back at the kitchen and saw that everybody had crowded forward and they were all smiling and no few waving at him too.

“Thank you.” He managed to say on turning back to Miranda Bluesky who nodded politely. He quickly retreated back towards the kitchens, all this attention was a bit intimidating but he was intercepted halfway by Mrs D.
“No, no dear, your work today is finished. You sit yourself down with your friends now.” She said warmly and steered him towards them.
As he took his seat Nancy arrived with a tray covered in dishes, almost like the one he had just delivered to the Master Supreme.
“Eat up dear.” Mrs D encouraged him. “You’ve earned it.”
It was a good excuse to put his head down and try to ignore all the stares he was receiving from around the refectory, and the food was, as ever, delicious.
“Just what have you been doing Fred ?” Winston asked him as they were left alone. “Mrs D doesn’t do that for just anyone.”
“I helped out.” He replied round a mouthful of beef and mushroom pie.
“But how ?” Lewis demanded.
“I umm, I’m not sure I should say.” Freder answered him. “Master Elena was a bit concerned that it was dangerous.”
“Come on Fred you can tell us.” Stella pressed him.
He looked around the refectory but couldn’t see master Elena anywhere and the reflected upon the episode with the squirl.
“I used my dark aura.” He said eventually but would not elaborate further.
It was a compromise and one that was rendered obsolete not long after when Harley had gone to get an extra helping and pumped the ladies for information.
“Fred provided all tonights hot water.” He announced as he sat down. “Boiled it up in minutes they said.”
Freder turned a very bright pink at the chorus of surprise from his companions.
“Wow, that must have been something to see, you must have tapped a big vatenloeker.” Winston enthused.
“It was dangerous.” Freder told them. “It could have gone badly wrong.”
“But it didn’t did it ?” Lewis asked rhetorically. “How did you do it ? I mean how can you see the vatenloeker, even Win hasn’t mastered that properly.”
“I don’t know how it works.” Freder said defensively. “I just can.”
The interrogation would have continued but for the sudden presence that loomed over the table behind Freder that killed all conversation; he recognised the aural presence of Stannous and looked around.
“Would you excuse us ?” Stannous politely requested of the other juniors and then sat down at Freder’s side when they had gone. “So my young friend you have another surprise up your sleeve. I knew you were capable of such a deed but I never realised that you had been watching me so closely or I might have warned you.”
“Are you angry with me Stannous ?” He asked him quietly.
“Angry ? Heavens no Freder. If anyone is at fault it has been me. Elena told me that she has spoken to you about using the vatenloeker so you know that they are potentially dangerous, especially the deep balfljot that you can reach.”
“Yes, I know that now.”
“So it is my duty to help you Freder. You have the ability to reach these sources so you must be taught which you can safely use and which you must not touch.”
“You’ll teach me ?” He enquired with a lightening of his mood.
“Of course, am I not your sponsor ? Now eat up and we’ll go and boil up enough water for a week.” Stannous answered him with a wide grin.
The fact that this would take place in his ‘free time’ was entirely immaterial to Freder, he fairly wolfed down his food and trotted alongside Stannous as he headed towards the kitchen.

“By your leave Mrs D.” Stannous requested at the threshold.
“Of course master.” She waved him in and smiled broadly at Freder.
Stopping in front of the ranges, where another tank had been filled but was still only luke warm, Stannous placed Freder beside him.
“The vatenloeker can all look very similar to the untrained.” He said. “So first we will look at the nearest.”
Freder let the chant circle in his head and his vision shifted to the ethereal world beyond the ordinary and beheld the hypnotic sight of the energy streams below his feet.
“Descibe what you see Freder.”
“There are rivers of light, they sparkle and move.”
“That they do, but look more closely, look for subtle shades of colour in the brightness, do you see some with a bluish tinge ?”
Freder hadn’t really scrutinised these mercurial streams before and it was only at Stannous prompting that he noticed that most of the nearest streams indeed had such a blue hue to them.
“Yes, most of the closest streams have that blue tinge, one has a mauve or pink tint.”
“Good, I’m glad you saw that one. That is a crystalline fracture in the rocks below us caused by a vein of quartz. It is not very strong and we don’t generally use such streams because the flow cannot be maintained for long.”
“Are the bluish ones caused by running water ?”
“They are, you recognise them as being like that buried watercourse on Doubtmoor ?”
“Yes.”
“These are the streams you would normally tap for energy, strong, reliable and safe.”
“Those are the ones I used when I levitated the squirl.” Freder said in realisation.
“Perfect for the job. Now look deeper and seek out the streams far down. What can you tell me about them ?”
“They sparkle much more, they seem to have a colour but its, sort of dark.”
“A good description, the colour is ultraviolet, beyond normal sight. It isn’t a real colour, it’s just how our minds portray it to us. With your dark aura you can access these deep streams can’t you ?”
“Yes, it was one of those I used this afternoon.”
“Hmmm. Well these are the dangerous streams, the balfljot. We don’t know what causes them, some say it’s molten rock welling deep underground, but whatever their cause, they are capricious.”
“What does that mean ?”
“Wild and unpredictable. They can be smooth but more often they surge up and can overwhelm you.”
“It gave me a jolt like an electric shock when I touched it.”
“You’re lucky it was only a jolt my young friend, but let that serve as a warning to you of their dangerous nature. For your own good never touch such a stream again.”
Stannous told him seriously.
“I understand.”
“Good. Now let’s work on your understanding of how to manipulate the safe streams properly. I am going to tap one vatenloeker for energy, that you know how to do, but watch very closely what I do with the energy thereafter.”
As Stannous summoned the energy forth and directed it up into the iron walls of the tank Freder ‘saw’ that he didn’t just let it flow through the metal, he caused it to form swirls that overlapped and extracted much more heat in the process.
“It’s like luminating.” Freder exclaimed in delight. “You’re making it go round in circles.”
“Excellent Freder, that is precisely what I am doing. Want to try ?”
“Can I ?”
“I’m supervising you Freder, it is alright.”

Freder reached down into the earth and made contact with one of the sparkling blue tinted streams of mercurial light and felt the wonderful tingling of its essence. Then he drew upon it and directed it up into the metal. At first it flowed straight through but then he exerted more control over it and bent it around into a wide circle, then a second and a third before his control slipped and it flowed straight once again.
“A good start Freder. Don’t try for too many to start with.” Stannous encouraged him gently and he regained his grip on the energy stream and bent it back around.
“Just hold that one for a moment, get the flow totally under your control, try to tighten the radius down a bit more, good, good. Stabilise it, good.”
Freder saw that it took time to get the circle smooth and completely controlled and worked upon it for several minutes before adding a second loop and bringing it under control. It took all his concentration and the loops writhed whenever he began to lose his grip on the flow.
“It’s slippery, like holding wet soap.”
“Oh, much harder than that Freder, you are doing very well indeed to hold two loops.”
“I don’t know how long I can do this.” He admitted as the loops wavered.
“Keep going, the water is heating nicely.”
He managed a further six minutes before the first loop popped out and the whole flow unravelled.
“Let it go.” Stannous told him with a pat on his shoulder. “You’ve done more than I would have expected possible of someone so young.”
“I was good then ?”
“For a beginner, excellent.” Stannous beamed. “But you’ll need to work on your concentration. Like all things, practice makes perfect. We’ll return here tomorrow evening with Mrs D’s assent.”
“Gladly given master, gladly given.” Mrs D said with a warm smile. “Here’s a little something to take away with you Freder.”
“Thank you Mrs D.” Freder said accepting the bag and wondering what delights lay inside. “See you tomorrow afternoon.”
As they walked through the deserted refectory he opened the bag and sniffed its contents, cookies.
“Like one ?” He offered the bag to Stannous.
“Thank you. Ahhh. The likes of Mrs D are so rare.” He said as he relished the cookie. “Off you go Freder. I’ll meet you here after the evening meal. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” He paused to look round. “Stannous.”
The master grinned at him and waved as he popped the rest of the cookie into his mouth.
Naturally his companions all wanted to know what Freder had been up to with Stannous and this time he told them straight away, trying to describe how difficult it was to keep the energy looping through the metal to get the best heating from it.
“That is just so amazing.” Win sighed. “Wonder when we’ll be able to do something like that.”
“Anyone like a cookie ?” Freder asked as he remembered the bag he was still carrying and placed it on the table. “Present from Mrs D.”

The gift didn’t last long and there were satisfied noises from all around the table.
“I reckon you should get a few more punishments Fred.” Lewis commented licking the final crumbs from his fingers.
“Thanks, but I’ll pass on that I don’t want to get in master Elena’s bad books again.”
“Fair enough.”
The following morning as they met up for breakfast Ariadne sat down with a piece of news.
“Valentina’s run off again.”
“Doesn’t know what’s good for her.” John said shaking his head and then carrying on his conversation with Win.
Freder was a little surprised at the almost casual way that the others accepted the news but recalled that this was not the first occaision that the Master Supreme’s daughter had absconded.
The morning lessons included another session with master Elias but as they were still practicing the healing pulse Valentinas absence did not cause any inconvenience but Freder had wanted to observe how she performed the pulse for he was still blowing up tomatoes with ominous regularity. Win repeated his performance of the day before and was getting it right most of the time; Stella then delivered her first successful pulse but immediately after burst the next tomato in a spectacular shower. Master Elias demonstrated the pulse for them several times during the lesson and although they could clearly see it most of them failed to replicate it.
Master Brookwyrde changed his lesson to reading aloud and each was required to stand at the front and read a passage from the Book of Beginnings. Freder found the strange spelling difficult to understand at times but managed to infer many of the words from the context and made a fair stab at the pronunciation. The rest of the lesson they were allowed to read more from the book for themselves and Freder found it fascinating to increase his knowledge of the Brotherhood.
“Can I keep this for a time master ?” He requested at the end of the lesson.
“Certainly Freder.” Master Brookwyrde replied. “How are you managing with the yo-yo ?”
“I’ve not really had much chance to try it.” Freder admitted.
“In any spare moment, practice, it will help you achieve your desires.” Master Brookwyrde urged him gently.
As he joined the others for a break Freder decided that it was a good time to try it. He wasn’t very good and usually it sank to the end of the string after a couple of attempts but he persisted despite the friendly ribbing he received from the others.
The final lesson of the morning was geomantics and master Mariel once more took them outside for the lesson; they all gathered at the banks of the river and were set the task of finding fish, crayfish and insect larvae. This was not as easy as it might have seemed for the river itself sparkled with energy and spotting the life within it was like trying to see a boat on a bright shining sea of light. Moreover master Mariel seemed distracted by something.
“Something’s up.” Win said as he and Freder lay at the waters edge, their othersight trawling through the clear water.
“What do you mean ?”
“In the House, there’s a lot of agitation. Can’t you feel it ?”

“I’ve been looking for crayfish.” Freder answered him with a grin then let his aura stretch out to the House. “You’re right, everyone is rushing about.”
By now the level of agitation had become noticeable to all the junior novices and they were sitting up from their task and looking back towards the House.
“We will get the news soon enough.” Master Mariel told them. “Now please resume your searches.”
But at their meal there was no news forthcoming, only an anxious tension in the air; even the kitchen staff didn’t know the precise cause but speculated it was to do with Valentina for the Master Supreme took her meal in her room together with the senior masters.
Freder spent the afternoon listening to the rumours that were circulating around the kitchen and praying that none of the wilder ones were true. Mrs D had to constantly remind her ladies that the meals needed to be cooked and for them to pay attention to their tasks.
“We all are upset by Valentina’s running off, but burning the supper won’t help anyone.” She scolded them gently at one point when a cauldron of soup came perilously close to boiling over.
Freder made his rounds with besom and bucket, sweeping up the odds and ends from the floor and scooping up the little snippets of information about the errant Valentina that fell on his ears. He was surprised to learn that she had once made it all the way to Lahndarn and had to be rescued from the clutches of an unsavoury character who was setting her up for a lifetime of enforced prostitution.
The evening meal was a somber affair with many masters absent or taking their meal with the Master Supreme. Freder wondered if this would prevent Stannous from supervising him again that evening, but the familiar figure came into the refectory and came over to him.
“Are you ready ?” Stannous enquired of him, Freder nodded eagerly.
He followed his mentor to the kitchen but was struck by the clear signs of distress in the flaring blue aura and wondered what news had caused it.
“Mrs D, a moment please.” Stannous requested of the cook and then whispered quietly in her ear.
“Oh my.” She breathed in shock and held her hand to her mouth before turning away.
“Stannous.” Freder said very quietly. “What’s happened to Valentina ?”
Stannous turned around and regarded him solemnly.
“I know you can sense something Freder, but for the moment I cannot tell you. Please be patient. Now we have training to do.” He gestured towards the tanks of tepid water.
Freder found it very hard to keep the energy stream tightly coiled, his thoughts kept drifting off into imagining what had befallen his classmate.
“You must not let your mind wander.” Stannous berated him mildly. “This is a good test of your abilities. When there are many things in your head you must clear all that away in order to keep your mind focussed upon your task.”
“But it’s just boiling water.” Freder said testily. “And I can’t help thinking about Valentina.”
“Neither can I Freder, but do you see me letting my thoughts go out of the window ? No, I remain focussed. You must become skilled in many things and quickly, we will have need of your talent Freder, and sooner than many think.”
Freder regarded him, mulling over what he had just said. It suggested that Valentina was in trouble, a lot of trouble, and he might be called upon to help.
“I’m sorry Stannous.” He said contritely and resumed his exercise with renewed commitment.

It was hard getting to sleep that night and nobody was very enthusiastic about anything at breakfast, listlessly picking at their food. Halfway through it Jake Lightning Arm strode into the refectory and clapped his hands twice, what little conversation had been underway died instantly.
“I have grave news.” He said in a voice full of strained emotion. “Valentina has been seized by the Hand. They are to put her on trial for treason against the state unless we surrender the Master Supreme to them.
All masters are summoned to a conclave in thirty minutes time. Classes for the senior novices are suspended for the morning. The junior novices will be supervised in their classes by the following senior novices. Master Elias’ class by Helen Witham, master Brookwyrde’s class by Norman Weatherall and master Marcus’ class by Norbert Lagrange.”
Around him the refectory exploded with noise as everyone sought to express their opinions, everyone except Freder who sat still and silent within the maelstrom. Freder didn’t know which piece of news was worse, Valentina’s capture or Norbert supervising him, but he couldn’t do anything about either.
The first lesson with Helen Witham turned out to be a lot better than any of them could have managed for she was an excellent teacher and interacted with far more than master Elias had. She took each by the hand while she performed the healing pulse several times over, they could actually feel the pulse being delivered through their linked auras. Win scored a straight five successes after his personal tuition and Stella achieved a number of good pulses interspersed between disasterous explosions. Unfortunately even Helen’s patient work couldn’t deliver a miracle of understanding for all of them and the rest of the class continued to send tomatos to an early grave in more or less spectacular fashion.
Norman Weatherall was as dry and uninteresting as Helen had been warm and inspiring. He wrote neatly but clearly had none of the passion for the words that master Brookwyrde did and the lesson was much the poorer because of his lacklustre performance.
As they filed into the final lesson that morning after the break Freder caught a particularly nasty gleam in Norbert’s eye, this was not going to be a good lesson. Once they were all seated he placed a very difficult exercise frame on the desk in front of him, it was a series of loops and spirals running in many different orientations that had to be negotiated by a ring with a bell attached to it.
“This will be this mornings task for you.” He announced with a sneering edge to his voice. “Just to see if any of you have the makings of a master.”
Everyone’s faces dropped in the face of the challenge, it was years ahead of anything they had faced until then.
“It isn’t very difficult.” Norbert told them dismissively and proceeded to smoothly take the ring from one end to the other without so much as a jingle. He was halfway through returning it silently to the start when the door was thrust open and a slightly pink faced Arthur Small burst into the room, the ring hit the frame with angry tinkling.
“Arthur !” Norbert barked irritably.
“Later Norbert.” Arthur retorted then turned to the class. “Winston, Ariadne and Freder you are to come with me immediately.”
“What…what are you doing ?” Norbert blustered.
“These are the Master Supreme’s instructions, now.” He waved the three of them forward and they obediently filed out into the corridor.
As they hurried along after Arthur Wins voice piped up.
“Where are we going Arthur ?”
“First to your dorms where you will pack enough clothes for seven days, then we are leaving.”
“Leaving ?” They all echoed.
“A rescue party is going after Valentina, we’re a part of it.” He answered them with a fierce grin over his shoulder.